KANNUR

AREA: 2997 Sq Km

POPULATION: 2251700

ALTITUDE: Sea level

ACCESS: 
Air: Kozhikode international airport (95Km)

Rail: Kannur

Kannur is called the land of looms and lore. A couple of days in Kannur you will discover the answer for the question Why? Kannur is situated in the northernmost part of Kerala. The name is said to have been driven from two Malayalam words, Kannan (Krishnan) and Oor ( place). It means lord Krishna’s place. Modern day Kannur also enjoys a significant position on the map of Kerala. It boasts a diverse and varied landscape in addition to a line-up of picture perfect beaches and historical monuments. Kannur is also known as the cradle of many a colorful folk art and music. Besides, its handlooms too are as popular as the folklore that the city so proudly preserves even today. I you are in Kannur do not miss a chance to watch a folk play or Theyyam - a unique combination of dance and music, with reminiscence of the tribal culture. All these features have made Kannur a hot destination on the tourist trail.

 Relive the colonial times at Fort St. Angelos in the west of Kannur, which was built in 1505 by the first Portuguese viceroy, Don Francisco De Almeida. The Dutch captured the fort in 1663 and sold it to the Ali Raja of Kannur in 1772 and in 1790 it came into possession of the British. The British rebuilt it and made it their most important station in Malabar. This fort is in fairly good state of preservation.

The British arrived in Thalassery in 1683 and built a goods shed here and also shifted their commercial capital to Thalassery from Kozhikode, following obstruction by the Dutch. It was in 1700, that the British built the Thalassery fort on a small hill called Tiruvellapadkunnu and in 1708, it was strengthened by increasing its height and with bastions. The St John’s Anglican Church is behind this fort.

Can’t Miss out in Kannur:

• Thalassery
• St. Angelo Fort
• Muzhuppilangad beach
• Dharmadam
• Arakkal Museum
• Prasinikadavu
• The Kizhunna Beach
• The Meenkunnu beach
• The Pazhssi Dam
• The cinnamon Valley of Anjarakabdy
• The Parssini Madammpura Temple